
- This event has passed.
Rainbow Serpent, a Black LGBTQ arts collective led by Marques Redd and Mikael Owunna, is ecstatic to showcase Myth-Science of the Gatekeepers, a collection of 16 glass sculptures of Black same gender loving men cast as ancient Egyptian deities. The statues and the spiritual system that animates them are deeply woven into the collective’s larger explorations of African cosmologies, multimedia art, innovative healing protocols, and emerging technologies.
Every day from opening until 1:00pm the gallery will be fully lit so visitors can explore the sculptures in detail. From 1:00pm until closing, the lights will be dimmed and the immersive virtual reality film Blackstar Sanctuary will play repeatedly. Plan Your Visit
Please note that the exhibition includes moving projections, strobe-like flashing lights, and loud sounds.
This exhibition was made possible with support from:
All content © Pittsburgh Glass Center 2025 | ADA Notice | Privacy Policy
![]() |
Hot Shop ActivitiesWith the help of an instructor, participants will learn how to transform 2,000°F molten glass into a unique glass artwork. Sculpted items will be manipulated and shaped with various metal hand tools. Blown items will be inflated via a flexible tube attached to a blow pipe. The Hot Shop, as the name might suggest, can get warm at times, particularly during summer months. That being said, the activity will only take about 10-15 minutes per person so you won’t be warm for long. We encourage our guests to wear lighter, natural material clothing for safety and comfort. Visitors are welcome to bring water bottles and a water fountain/filling station is available. These activities will involves sitting, standing, and walking around. Suitable for ages 5 and up. |
![]() |
Kiln Shop Fusing ActivitiesCombine brilliantly colored pieces of glass granules and thin glass strands to create a one-of-a-kind luminous fused glass artwork. Once you design it, we’ll fire it, so that all pieces become one. Participants will work seated in our climate-controlled Classroom and with room temperature pieces of glass. You will begin with a glass tile that acts as your “canvas,” then arrange the colorful glass granules and thin glass strands into a design of your choosing. Once the designs are complete, suncatchers are placed in a kiln overnight to melt (fuse) together forever. Suitable for ages 5 and up. |
![]() |
Flame Shop ActivitiesWith the help of an instructor, participants will learn how to use tools and a tabletop torch to melt and manipulate glass rods and transform them into truly one-of-a-kind objects. These activities take place in our climate controlled Flame Shop, which involves working with a flame, but is not nearly as warm as our Hot Shop. Participants will be sitting at a workstation, making this option slightly more accessible and less physically demanding. Suitable for ages 8 and up. |